Sacred Heart & Our Lady's

Collaborative 

Newton, MA

For updated information, visit our Covid-19 page.

For regular updates by email, sign up for our Flocknote newsletter at https://sholnewton.flocknote.com/SHOLEmailUpdates
This includes a Wednesday reflection, regular Friday update, and Saturday homily.

New as of March 29: Our priests are now recording themselves celebrating mass. See the first mass they recorded, for the 5th Sunday of Lent, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03SU2MuB2lw .

New as of March 24: Reconciliation on Wednesdays and Saturdays has temporarily been suspended. The churches are closed to the public for now.

New as of March 19: beginning Monday, March 23, Cardinal Sean has suspended the celebration of any Funeral Mass or Funeral Liturgy in the church. Cemetery committal services are still available, and we invite bereaved families to schedule Memorial Masses for their loved ones once public worship can safely resume.

New as of March 17: the parish offices are closed for the time being. In the meantime, the pastoral staff are present and available to you by phone or email.

March 13 Statement from Cardinal Sean

Dear Friends in Christ,

The staff of the Collaborative understands that this is a time of anxiety for all of us. We are here to support you in any way we can, and we are keeping everyone’s safety in our prayers. We are closely monitoring advice from the Archdiocese, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Newton Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control, along with consulting the medical professionals in own community, and we are following recommendations and directives from them.

Therefore, we are announcing or passing on the following important changes and safeguards, effective this weekend:

Regarding Mass and other sacraments:
Beginning at 4:00pm on Saturday, March 14, all daily and Sunday Masses and religious services are suspended. In announcing this, Cardinal Sean also has issued a dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.

Mass is televised on Catholic TV at 9:30am daily and at 10:00am on Sunday. You can also watch Mass online at www.WatchTheMass.com

The Monday monthly Masses for the Sick are canceled until further notice.

Our policy for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick remains unchanged: it is offered after all Masses the first full weekend of each month, and it is available by request to the priest. Our priests are committed to making the sacraments available to those who request them, as long as it is safe.

Community Events and Outreach
Non-liturgical/sacramental events and gatherings are cancelled. Religious Education is cancelled. The small faith groups have been suspended. The Fish Fry is cancelled. Friday and Sunday morning coffee gatherings are suspended.

In-person visits to our homebound parishioners by lay ministers have been suspended, but our committed volunteers will continue to make regular phone calls to maintain a connection with our neighbors.

Outreach to our most vulnerable: many people have exercised a great generosity of spirit in asking how we can care for our neighbors most in need during this time. If you are interested in learning more about how you can support someone, whether by a daily or weekly phone call or by making home deliveries of essential items, please contact Kate at kneal@sholnewton.org or 617-527-7560 ext.219.

Staff and Offices
As of March 17, the parish offices are closed. The staff remains available to all by email or phone, whether for business or pastoral care. We are here for you!

Best practices:
·handwashing with soap and warm water for 20 seconds as often as possible
·covering your cough/sneeze with your elbow or a tissue
·avoiding touching your face (especially eyes, nose, and mouth)
·keeping a distance of 6 feet from others whenever possible
If you have any sign of a cold, flu, or fever, isolate yourself. Remember: even if you have no symptoms, you may be contagious, so use these best practices whether you feel symptomatic or not. 

We ask God to grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. AMEN.

With prayers for you, your loved ones, our community, and our world, 
we wish you peace and health,
The Collaborative Staff

The Sacred Heart & Our Lady Help of Christians Collaborative is committed to being a living Gospel to all those we meet.

We strive to encounter Christ, respond in love, and share the Good News of our faith for the realization of God's Kingdom. 

If you are new to this site and to our collaborative, welcome! If you are a long time parishioner, welcome back! We hope you find what you are searching for. 

Fr. John's Memorial Booklet of Photos and Stories
Eulogy Given by Mary Ann McLaughlin
To read more about Fr. John's life and legacy, visit this page.

Want to know what's going on in the collaborative? Sign up for the Weekend Update emails, and get the most important things to know each Friday morning. To register, fill out our online form at sholnewton.org/weekendupdate

Click to read Cardinal Sean's letter, announcing the Year of the Eucharist.

- Our Lady Help of Christians -


- Sacred Heart -